Tedder-fork



(No Model.)

G. M. BAKER.

TEDDER FORK. No. 505,807.

W/ TNE SSE S.

' Armm/EYJ Patented Oct. 3, 1893.

UNITED STATES GEORGE M. BAKER,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF DAYTON, OHIO.

TEDDER-FORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 505,807, dated October 3, 1893. Application filed June 12, 1893. Serial No. 477,323. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. BAKER, of Dayton, county of Montgomery, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Tedder Forks; and I do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in hay tedder forks.

The object of the invention is to provide a fork of improved construction, that may conform readily to the conditions of the ground over which it is driven while tedding, by a quick and sufficient yielding of the spring to permit the fork to pass over the hay, or greater obstructions, and further, to relieve the spring of the bearing strain of the fork.

With these objects in view my invention consists of certain features that will be hereinafter described in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1, represents a view in perspective, of my improved tedder fork and arm. Fig. 2, is a side eleva tion of the fork arm and a fork, the latter shown in a deflected position; Fig. 3, a detail view in front elevation, of the fork removed from the arm, the lower ends of the tines being broken off; Fig. 4, a plan view of the same; Fig. 5, a detail, detached view of the coupling link, in perspective.

The attachment of my tedder fork may be effected with any of the hay tedders in use, in the usual way. Therefore it has not been deemed necessary to illustrate any features but those embodying my invention.

a, indicates the fork arm which is pivoted to the vibrating arm b, which is in turn pivoted to the frame of the machine (not shown) in a well known manner.

0 indicates the box rigid to the arm a, in which the crank shaft is journaled; the fork is constructed of any suitable metal; wrought iron is, however preferred; this metal having been selected, the fork is constructed by forming a loop 01, and eyes e e, and terminating the ends in tines 9 represents a bolt extending through and projecting on both sides of the lower end of the fork arm a, to form bearings for the fork by entering the eyes e 6 thereof.

h is a spiral tension spring which encircles the fork armand bears against lugs 1, projecting laterally from the sides of said arm; these lugs prevent the spring from moving downwardly out of its position either by the force or gravity or when the spring is compressed by the coupling link j; this link is provided with a loopj at one end and a hook j at the other, the former of which incloses the upper end of the spring by encircling the fork arm, while the latter, 1'. a, the hook j", couples with the loop cl of the fork.

By, constructing the spiral spring independent of the fork and providing the coupling linkj, a common defect due to torsional strain is obviated.

It has been ascertained from experience that the arrangement of the spring around the arm as herein shown and described allows the fork to deflect with less unnecessary resistance than is met with in instances where the spring is an integral .part of the fork; and further, a breakage of either a fork or a spring does not render both fork and spring useless, as either can be replaced without discarding the other.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a tedder fork, the combination with the arm having lugs on its sides, of a spiral spring encircling said arm and bearing on said lugs, a fork having a loop and two eyes formed in the body thereof and terminating in tines, said fork having a pivotal connection with the arm by means of bolts or lugs penetrating the eyes, a coupling link having a loop at one end encircling the arm and inclosing the spring, and a hook at the other end to engage with the loop on the fork, substantially as herein described.

2. The combination of the fork provided with a loop'd and eyes 0 e, the coupling link j, provided with a loop j and hook j", the fork arm a, with the lugs thereon, the spiral spring h, encircling said arm and having a bearing on thelugs thereon, all arranged substantially as herein described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set :05

my hand this 2d day of June, 1893. GEORGE M. BAKER.

Witnesses:

R. J AY MOOARTY, S. A. DIoKsoN. 

